Articles of 2010
PREDICTION PAGE: Who Do Ya Like, Williams Or Martinez?
Atlantic City, NJ (November 18, 2010) – This Saturday, November 20, at Atlantic Citys Boardwalk Hall, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio Maravilla Martinez will defend his title against Paul The Punisher Williams in a rematch of their December 5, 2009 slugfest which had both fighters knocked down in round one and Williams winning by majority decision after twelve back-and-forth rounds.
Las Vegas odds have the fight a virtual pickem, with Williams as a light favorite at 6:5. It is 3:1 that the fight goes the distance and 5:2 it ends early.
World Champions, former superstar World Champions, and entertainers have provided their insight to their predictions:
Former World Champions
I am familiar with both fighters and believe it is 50-50 pick em. Both fighters have good hand speed and both have punching power. Williams has height and reach advantage and Sergio has slightly more power. I am looking forward to seeing a
great fight. Great event for HBO . – Sugar Ray Leonard, World Champion in 5 Weight Divisions
Paul Williams by a decision! If he keeps his head up this time should be an easier fight for him. – George Foreman, Two-Time World Heavyweight Champion
Sergio is a great fighter and Paul is very skilled, but it all comes down to conditioning for this fight. This is going to be an exciting fight that we havent seen in a long time, well worth our money. I predict it will go the distance and the man in
the best condition will be victorious. – Tommy Hearns, World Champion in 5 Weight Divisions
Entertainment
If its anything like the first fight it!! Should be the fight of the year! I wouldnt miss it for the world…Martinez!! – Actor Mark Wahlberg
In the Words, of the great Rocky Balboa I dont Wanna Lose what I got. Sergio is A champ that is strong and quick and just wont quit. KO in the 8th Sergio over
Paul! –
Actor Andre Royo, The Wire
Current Boxers
I think Williams is going to stop him this time and live up to his name, The Punisher.
He knows what he has to do and use that reach to take care of business. I think it is either a TKO or KO before the 10th round. – Bernard Hopkins, Former Undisputed Middleweight Champion
I like Martinez in a rematch. He appears to be a little more skillful to me. – Roy Jones, Jr, World Champion in 4 Weight Divisions
That is going to be a great fight. Sergio is going to give Paul everything he can handle, but Paul has a lot of vengeance from the last fight. Its going to be a very entertaining, action-packed bout, and Paul will come out on top. – Andre Berto,
WBC Welterweight Champion
Going to be a great rematch but I think Williams might pull it off with a KO or majority decision, usually does well with his rematches and Martinez hasnt had many – Amir Khan, WBA Jr. Welterweight Champion
Both of these guys are great talents, but I think Martinez has shown his skills and power are the superior to Williams. I think Williams looses by 10th round TKO! – Peter Mandfredo, two-Time World Champion
I feel Paul Williams will beat him unanimously this time around. Ive heard Sergio was 176 pounds just a few days ago and needs to be at 157 is allot for a 36 year old. – Sergio Mora, Former Jr. Middleweight World Champion
Hometown Scribe
Ill also pick Martinez to beat Williams by decision in the rematch. Beating Kelly Pavlik put Sergio on the next level in my view. – Dave Weinberg, Press of Atlantic City
* * *
Goossen Tutor Promotions and DiBella Entertainment in association with Caesars Atlantic City and Corona are presenting this evening of boxing Martinez vs. Williams II will be broadcast on HBOs World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT.
Tickets, priced at $400, $200, $100 and $50 can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 Martinez-Williams II
Quotes and Photosfrom todays final press conference
at Caesars Atlantic CityAtlantic City, NJ (November 17, 2010) – This Saturday, November 20, at Atlantic Citys Boardwalk Hall, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) Middleweight Champion Sergio Maravilla Martinez will defend his title against Paul The Punisher Williams in a rematch of their December 5, 2009 slugfest which had both fighters knocked down in round one and Williams winning by majority decision after twelve back-and-forth rounds.
Goossen Tutor Promotions and DiBella Entertainment in association with Caesars Atlantic City are presenting this evening of boxing. Martinez vs. Williams II will be broadcast on HBOs World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT.
Tickets, priced at $400, $200, $100 and $50 are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.
QUOTES
Gabriel Sarmiento (Martinez Trainer) :
Williams and Peterson each have a big mouth and for the past few weeks there has been a lot of talking out of the ring. Now there will be only action in the ring. There was the issue with the weight and the 30-day weigh-in by the WBC. Mr. Peterson has said Sergio is an old dog that cannot learn new tricks but Wiliams needs to know that this old dog will bite him in the ass when he gets into the ring. Thats where we will do our talking.
This fight will be Fight of the Year and the winner of this fight will be Fighter of the Year.
George Peterson: In my 60 years of boxing I have never been more excited than this particular time. I didnt know if the dog was going to take a bite of the bone but he took it. Saturday night is going to be a heck of a fight. One thing he said has resonated in my mind…that he was going to knock Paul Williams out before the 7th round. I want him to bear in mind that there are going to be 12-rounds of fighting on Saturday night. So son, if you are preparing for 7-rounds, what are you going to do for the next 5 rounds? Youve got no place to hide in there and Ill tell you, Paul Williams is ready. He has been ready since that fight took place in December of last year. Its going to be a heck of a fight.
Paul Williams: I am just excited that the fight is here. There has been a lot of trash talk, and that is just hype for the fight. I really dont have a lot to say. I do all my talking in the ring. If you know me, you know that, and if you dont know me, youll find that out on Saturday night. Ive been in there with him and hes been in there with me, so we both know what to expect. It is going to be something to see, so you should come out Saturday night to watch it and if you cant come out, then watch it on HBO. Im not worried about the dog biting me because you cant bite in the ring.
Sergio Martinez: The moment of truth will be on Saturday and I will prove why I am the champion. I would like to thank HBO because every time I am on HBO it makes my career bigger. I want to thank my trainer for working with me every day. This time after the fight I expect there will be no excuses from Paul Williams like the ones I have been hearing in the past few months.
Paul Williams: There has not been a change in training (knowing he is fighting Maravilla the whole camp). He stole my belts and Im going to get them back on Saturday night.
Sergio Martinez: I have been in this weight division for a year now, so I am smarter and stronger.
Paul Williams: I feel very comfortable fighting at this weight. I dont know what the big deal is. When I win this belt back, of course I would go back down there to 147 to fight Pacquiao because he is the best out there. I beat all the other guys and of course I would want to get it on with him.
Sergio Martinez: I will fight him, I will attack him and I will box him. I have prepared for a war and on Saturday night, we are going to get one.
Paul Williams: If the money is right (for a 3rd fight) then we could do it again and it will be another walk in the park.
George Peterson: They call this young man The Punisher and he sure is being punished by all the fighters at 147 that wont fight him. Paul Williams is trained in such a way that whatever adjustment he needs to make in the ring he can make that adjustment and go to the next gear
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